Timothy Egan for the New York Times:

Sobriety, laudable in many respects, does imply rigidity of thought. The best presidents were open-minded, and generally open to a drink. The nondrinkers, at least over the last century or so, were terrible presidents.

Too much alcohol, or alcohol for the wrong reasons is definitely not a good idea. Rigidity of thought is probably worse.

Reminds me of the scene in Peaceful Warrior where Socrates (Nick Nolte) suddenly smokes a cigarette, to the astonishment of Dan Millman. The dialogue goes something like this: “But isn’t smoking bad?” “Only addiction is bad. Choose what you want moment to moment. Only when you stop being in control is there a problem”. Or something to the effect.